EVERY DAY COUNTS

Room 6 is keeping track of the first 100 days of school very closely.  We call it "one" and discuss each new day to see what part of that big one we have.  Today was the 25th of our first hundred days.  Each day we post the percent, decimal and fraction.  Then we see if that fractional amount can be simplified.

We also have a puzzle of sorts on our calendar.  Can you figure out what it is?  The pattern is mathematical and is tied to the number of factors of each date.  To help us solve the puzzle we create rectangular arrays to represent the amount of area each number represents.  It is a great opportunity to practice geometry, especially area and perimeter.

Wow!  Fifth grade is chock full of MATH!    Mrs. B

Room 6 Math

Every day your students practice their math facts.  They each check in the morning to see if they have passed a drill.  Then they pick a new one up for the day.  We have twenty different drills in all that range from basic multiplication and division all the way through algebra to measurement equivalents.  Three minutes is the time allowed.  It goes fast!  If you see a drill come home that needs to be finished that is to prepare them to retake it the next day.  Today we took the same six minute test we took the first week of school.  I am looking forward to seeing the progress that has been made.

September 22nd

Guess what we did today?  We jumped off the bus!  Yes indeed, today was the annual bus evacuation drill.  Our bus drivers are very proud of their safety record.  I for one appreciate the way they take care of their passengers every day.

This week we are also learning to simplify fractions.  I am amazed and pleased with how well the students are doing with this very complicated process.  Take some time to ask how they simplify fractions.  I bet you will be impressed!  

Mrs. B

Are YOU a scholar?

Would you like to earn a spot on the scholar list?

1. List ALL of the factors of 250.
2. Name five of the processes that all living things share.

Bring me your answer, don't tell your buddies!

Mrs. B

Art with Mrs. O

Ralphie
Brenna
Emma
Trevor
Mathew

Today we completed the art we began last Tuesday.  It was great to see students focus on creating the colors they needed.  Each one used only yellow, blue, and red paint.  No one cleaned their brush at any point so they had to plan ahead to create the rainbow of hues they ended up with. It was very impressive.

MAP WORK

Fifth graders in Room 6 have been working hard to complete a map of the United States.  They are now working on the Week 3 assignment.  It is a tricky one that includes the East Coast states.  Each student has learned to label carefully on guidelines drawn using our official T- Squares.  Their labels are all in CAPITAL BLOCK letters.  Each cartographer, or mapmaker, has learned to write neatly in tiny letters.  Each student is working to do their neatest work and using their knowledge of how an atlas works to find the items they need to include on their maps.  I am very proud of their hard work.   Mrs. B

IS THIS PE?

Hula Hoop madness took place in the gym recently.  We started with Buddies teaching each other how.  That was great!  Then our experts started with seven hoops to prove how super they were.  Emily turned out to be the hoopster extaordinaire!

Wow! Nice turn out for Back to School Night. Thank you for your support and energy. I know this will be a super year. If you missed it you should receive a set of papers from your child. Please return the blog permission soon so I can start to add photos of kids. Oh boy!

We are jumping right in to factoring in math to prepare for fractions. So far we have been exploring prime and composite numbers. As we look at larger numbers it becomes even more important for every student to know the multiplication tables. Let me know if you need extra help with this at home.
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It has been great listening to everyone read this week. Small groups are reading "Class President" from our anthology. They sound just great. Today we will have a handing off discussion and I look forward to hearing fifth grade thinking again.

Mrs. B

All About Me

One of our first homework assignments was All About Me.  Each student was asked to create a collage using images from magazines, printed words, and internet information.  The goal was to give clues about their identity.  We had a great time guessing the secret identities on Friday morning.  Can you guess whose this is?